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Get active for wildlife this October!

(c) Zsuzsanna Bird

Customise your 30km fundraising challenge to help The Wildlife Trusts restore nature!

The Wildlife Trusts’ Big Wild Walk aims to be the biggest yet to encourage wildlife lovers to raise money and help restore nature across the UK. 

Supporters can create their own challenge with the aim of covering 30 kilometres in any way that suits them. The funds raised will support wildlife recovery and contribute to The Wildlife Trusts’ mission to protect 30% of the UK’s land and sea for nature by 2030. 

The Wildlife Trusts are leading a swathe of projects across the country to bring back nature. Big Wild Walkers in Cumbria can help raise money to buy Skiddaw Forest, whilst Bedfordshire residents could support rewilding at Strawberry Hill, and Somerset locals can fundraise to restore Honeygar, one of the UK’s largest wetlands.  

This autumn The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging participants to nominate friends and family to get involved too, with #NominateForNature. A digital fundraising pack will support everyone by providing a sponsorship sheet, distance tracking form and social media posts.  

The Big Wild Walk takes place across from Monday the 21st October to Sunday 3rd November 2024. It’s half-term for schools and a great time for all ages to enjoy the great outdoors. Sign-up at wildlifetrusts.org/bigwildwalk! 

Rhiane Fatinikun, founder of Black Girls Hike and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, says: 

“Dip your toes into the outdoors this autumn, and join me, as well as thousands of others, to experience the joy that nature can bring. Supporting children, families, and individuals to get outside is a cause which is so close to my heart, as well as an incredible opportunity to raise money for a WILDlife-changing charity. Sign up today to get involved with The Big Wild Walk!” 

Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, says:   

“Fundraisers like this provide the cornerstone for nature recovery at scale across the UK. By taking a walk or wheeling around the block, you are playing a vital part in bringing nature back. We want to plant forests where they once were, reintroduce animals like beavers back to the countryside, and rewild our seas. Take a walk on the wild side and help us revive UK wildlife this autumn!” 

Read all about some people’s plans to raise funds this autumn further below – from Sophie aged 7 in Kent, to Grace aged 18 in Wales. 

Notes to editor

Case studies

Sophie Pilcher, 7, Kent 

  • Sophie is 7 and from Sittingbourne in Kent. For the last two years she has enjoyed taking part in the Hedgehog Walk, the children’s version of the Big Wild Walk. The charity fundraiser gives Sophie and her family a great reason to get outside, enjoy the countryside and even visit the odd cake shop! 

  • Last year (2023) Sophie clocked up over 30kms walking to nearby nature reserve Cromer’s Wood and exploring the many trails and tracks in the countryside near her home. A keen photographer and writer, Sophie took the opportunity to take pictures along the way and detail her adventures in her notebook at cake stops! 

  • Her friends and family sponsored her efforts and she was thrilled to receive a beautiful pin badge which she proudly showed off to the school in assembly. 

  • Sophie said: “I love the Big Wild Walk; it's fun and we are helping nature.” 

Freya, 21, Scottish Highlands 

  • Freya is 21, living in West Wales but travelling up to the Scottish Highlands for her Big Wild Walk challenge.

  • She will be joined by her friend, Tez, and their horses – Dolly and Mocca – to ride/walk 30km a day for a 3-day expedition from the East coast of Scotland to the west.

  • An aspiring environmental lawyer, Freya is particularly interested in the legal mechanisms which could help achieve 30x30.

  • Freya says “Growing up in the southeast I was used to empty views from green spaces, but up in Scotland the landscapes are so much more alive! I’d love to bump into a wildcat on my adventure, but I'll be happy if I catch sight of an otter instead!” 

Wild Health project, Gwent 

  • The Wild Health group, run by Gwent Wildlife Trust, is comprised of service users from GDAS (Gwent Drug and Alcohol Services), North Monmouthshire Adult Community Mental Health Team and Cambrian Consortium (Private mental health residential service).  

  • Ian Thomas, senior project officer, has been working with them for over 2 years and the participants are now regularly walking up to 6 miles occasionally over rugged terrain in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and adjacent valleys. The group have climbed Pen Y Fan, Sugar Loaf, hikes to Chartist Cave and walked the length of the Brecon / Monmouthshire Canal from Pontymoile to Brecon in stages.  

  • One member of the group is even a finalist in the GAVO (Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations) inspirational journey category and has also been nominated for the WCVA (Welsh Council for Voluntary Action) Awards, as has the whole group. 

Grace Gavigan, 18, South Wales 

  • Grace Gavigan, 18 from South Wales, has participated in the Wildlife Trust’s annual ‘Big Wild Walk’ fundraising challenge for the past 2 years, walking over 100km, raising over £500 and carrying out numerous litter picks on the way!   

  • This inspirational Cardiff University student and current Miss Earth Wales is passionate about our planet and protecting our most precious species, which is why she’s dedicated to being one of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ trailblazing #WILDFundraisers.  

  • For 2024 Grace will be going global with the Big Wild Walk challenge by swapping south Wales’ countryside terrain for the Philippine coast as she heads out to compete at Miss Earth 2024. 

  • Grace says, “I’ve always been passionate about protecting our planet and its incredible wildlife. Taking part in the Big Wild Walk has been such a rewarding way to give back to the environment, and I'm proud to have raised funds for the Wildlife Trust while doing something I love. As I prepare to compete in Miss Earth 2024, I’m excited to take this challenge global, swapping the beautiful Welsh countryside for the stunning coastlines of the Philippines. Together, we can all make a difference, one step at a time.” 

Rhiane Fatinikun  

Rhiane Fatinikun is the latest addition to The Wildlife Trusts’ small but stellar team of ambassadors who include Alison Steadman, Maddie Moate, Cel Spellman, Dave Goulson, David Oakes, Hannah Stitfall and Mya-Rose Craig among others. See the full team here. Rhiane founded Black Girls Hike (BGH UK) in 2019 to challenge the stereotypes and lack of representation in the outdoors. Since then, BGH UK has gone from strength to strength, launching groups nationwide and running regular hikes, training days and outdoor activities. 

The Wildlife Trusts  

The Wildlife Trusts are making the world wilder and helping to ensure that nature is part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 910,000 members and 35,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. www.wildlifetrusts.org  

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